A Good Note • Hoshana Rabbah Prayer in the Presence of our Teacher

The Shuvu Banim website continues its coverage of the Sukkot holiday in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

On Hoshana Rabbah, the day of the final seal after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we merited the Shacharit (morning prayer), Hallel (psalms of praise), Hoshanot (special liturgical poems), and Musaf (additional prayer) together with our teacher, the Rav shlit"a. Before you is the full coverage of the prayer on this holy day:

At 5:17 AM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered for the Hoshana Rabbah prayer on the balcony of his home. Hundreds, perhaps nearly a thousand people, who came to pray on this "Day of Judgment" together with the Rav shlit"a, stood in the courtyard of our Beit Midrash (study hall) — the prayer hall — all wrapped in white with the Tallit (prayer shawl) and Kittel (white ritual robe). Immediately upon entering, he began reciting Tikkun Chatzot (midnight lamentation) with the verses customarily said on Shabbat and Festivals. Afterward, he continued with the Shacharit prayer, the morning songs (Pesukei D'Zimra), and the recitation of the Korbanot (sacrificial readings) with vitality and spiritual awakening as the dawn broke. At 6:05 AM, he made the blessing on the Tallit and, surprisingly, following the custom of the Ariz"l (Rabbi Isaac Luria), he took the Lulav (palm branch) with a blessing even before the Shacharit prayer, under the special Sukkah built on his balcony.

[caption id="attachment_63368" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] During the first waving before the prayer, according to the custom of the Ariz''l[/caption]

Immediately during the recitation of Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) along with the additions for Hoshana Rabbah — a prayer similar to the Shacharit of a Yom Tov (holiday) — he extended the singing and melodies, such as the songs "Hoshia et Amecha" (Save Your People) and "HaNechemadim MiZahav" (More Desirable than Gold) for several minutes. After Shacharit, at 7:15 AM, the Rav began the singing of Hallel with melodies and immense vitality for nearly an hour (55 minutes). Particularly notable was the singing of "B'tzeit Yisrael MiMitzrayim" (When Israel went out of Egypt) for fifteen minutes. Afterward, with even greater length, the singing of "Hodu L'Hashem Ki Tov" (Give thanks to Hashem for He is good) lasted for twenty-five minutes, while the Rav paused for the Na'anuim (ritual wavings) as is customary. During the stirring melody of "Ana Hashem Hoshia Na" (Please Hashem, save us), he sang for about seven minutes.

[caption id="attachment_63370" align="aligncenter" width="608"] During the singing of Hallel[/caption]

After Hallel, they began reciting the Hoshanot, the highlight of the day, for about half an hour, word by word, as the Rav circled in Hakafot (circuits) with the Four Species around the Bimah (platform) of the Torah scroll on the balcony. After each section, the Rav recited the special verse for Hoshana Rabbah. Specifically, during the recitation of "Kol Mevaser, Mevaser V'Omer..." (A voice heralds, heralds and says...), the Rav's loud voice roared the verses, and the entire congregation was with him in a flaming fire!

After finishing the Hoshanot before the beating of the Aravah (willow branches), the Rav sang "Hoshia et Amecha" for about seven minutes. Afterward, the Rav performed the beating of the special Aravah.

[caption id="attachment_63372" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] During the beating of the Aravah[/caption]

At the conclusion of the beating of the Aravah, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, ordered the opening of the Ark for the recitation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. The Torah reading for Hoshana Rabbah, "And on the seventh day," was read, as well as the Maftir. There were four Aliyos (Torah honors); for the third Aliyah, the Chassid Rabbi Moshe Tzanani shlit"a ascended. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, ascended for the Aliyah of Rabbeinu HaKadosh (Rebbe Nachman).

[caption id="attachment_63365" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] The Chassid Rabbi Moshe Tzanani shlit"a during his Aliyah to the Torah[/caption]

At 9:20 AM, the Rav began the Musaf prayer and the Chazzan's repetition with the melodies of "V'Karev Pizureinu" (Bring our scattered ones close) and "V'Havienu L'Tziyon Ircha" (Bring us to Zion Your city) for several minutes. After Musaf, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, recited Aneim Zemirot (Song of Glory) and the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). At the conclusion of the Tikkun HaKlali, the Rav delivered a short lesson and entered his holy home to the singing of "Becha Rabbeinu Nagila" (In you, our Rebbe, we will rejoice), after four hours and twenty minutes that we merited to be in the fourth seal together with our teacher, the Rav shlit"a!

Before you is a spectacular photo gallery (Shuvu Banim website, Hitchadshut Bulletin):

[caption id="attachment_63368" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] During the first waving before the prayer, according to the custom of the Ariz''l[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_63365" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] The Chassid Rabbi Moshe Tzanani shlit"a during his Aliyah to the Torah[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_63380" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Reciting the Tikkun HaKlali after the prayer[/caption]